It's a bit easy to be negative these days. Times are tough and talk is cheap, and I like to manage expectations and not get too carried away with rhetoric. 

But today I'm going to praise the Government and be positive. 

The surprise announcement that free trade talks between New Zealand and India will start next month was great news.  

Like PPPs, it won’t be a game changer short term, but it is a step in the right direction. 

The welcome given to Christopher Luxon was quite a thing.  

Flags and billboards all over town.  A rowdy welcome from folk dancers and then the news that finally we will negotiate.  

Our recent battle in cricket is top of Indian minds and they know that we are already good friends.  

The benefits for both countries are large. 

For too long our need for dairy to be part of a comprehensive deal has held talks back. But India is still a way away from needing us.  

They have a huge but poorly performing herd of cows, but they are still self-sufficient with estimates of local production falling short in 25 years' time and not tomorrow. They will need us in the future.  

The Chinese free trade deal saw dairy finally included 20 years after our first agreement. This free trade thing is a long conversation.  

But there’s a lot more to India than dairy. 

Space is a no brainer. India is already aiming for the moon, and we’d love to help. 

IT is another sector that we can benefit from India's expertise to help our productivity. 

And with all eyes on Chinese expansion in the Indo-pacific region there is many reasons for a closer relationship. If tensions with China increase, our manufacturers will need India’s cheap labour.  

And on China, we need to have India on our side the same way we walk the tightrope with America on pacific security and a relationship with China. 

While we will always recognize dairy as a cornerstone to our competitiveness in global trade, we have often spoken of the need for diversification in our export markets.  

This deal offers a chance to grow and become broader based.  

And with a bit of luck dairy will join the ride as years go by. 

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